Abstract
The following paper discusses the theories held by the Catholic Church and those held by its detractors. The detractors of this Catholic doctrine assert that it is unnecessary to believe in her Immaculate Conception in the whole scheme of things but if that were to be true they would denying their congregation proof positive in God's magnificence as well as the powerlessness of the devil.

From the Paper
"Between the 11th February, 1858 and 16th July, 1858, a teenaged girl, Bernadette, was visited 18 times by "a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright belt" and who bore on each foot "a pale yellow rose, the same color as her rosary beads." (Menezes, 2000, 1) Upon examination, the Catholic Church agreed that the apparitions were indeed those of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What was intriguing was the Virgin Mary's reference to herself:
" . . . At my third request her face took on a very serious expression, and at the same time an expression of deep humility . . . Joining her palms as if for prayer, she raised them to the height of her breast . . . She looked up to heaven . . . then slowly opening her hands and bending down towards me, she said to me in a voice in which one could sense a slight trembling, "I am the Immaculate Conception." (Menezes, 2000, 1)

Tags:Virgin, Mary, subject, debate, centuries, Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Fundamentalists, state, being

From the Paper
"What I first notice about Mary was her physical stature she was rather elongated in figure, much longer than the Schone Madonna yet she had the gentle curves on her body and the flowing garment that cascaded down her figure. I did see a disproportion in the curves of her womanly shape. What I saw was the slight and subtle curve at her belly and like her hips curved a little bigger than her body. Like the title indicates it is - The Immaculate Conception? and I can understand why she has those subtle signs of one month or a weeks? number pregnancy. I noticed that only the physique and the flow of garment the way the folds of the garment were like a baby waterfall."

Tags:conception, guido, immaculate, italian, mary, paintings, personal, reflection, reni, virgin

Abstract
This paper discusses whether Mary, mother of Jesus, had a choice in the matter of her pregnancy and how those who are true believers in the virgin birth dare not question its validity. The paper examines how believers have faith that Jesus' conception and subsequent birth was foretold and all that occurred was meant to be, therefore, Mary had no choice in the matter as she was destined to become "impregnated" by the Holy Spirit and thus the mother of Jesus Christ. The paper also looks at how this immaculate conception and birth of Jesus are documented in the biblical books of "Matthew" and "Luke".

From the Paper
"In Woodman's book, however, the "virgin" is not pregnant with child, but instead is pregnant with limitless possibilities, which represent the aspect of the feminine that exists inside of every man and/or woman who has the courage to truly be themselves, yet to develop and continue to "become" what they are destined to be (10). Woodman writes how the "virgin" has a loving balance with unity and positive energy, and when allowed to be encompassed by "the spirit of life" she can become conscious of herself as a beautiful, individual soul. "

Tags:immaculate, conception

Abstract
The paper relates that cue conception is one of the more commonly studied and analyzed aspects of human cognition and human learning, and explains that cue competition refers to the observation that potential causes of a given effect tend to compete for causal status (Beckers, 2005, p.238). The paper further explains that the perceived casual status of a given cue (X) in producing a given outcome is determined not only by the co-occurrence of X and the outcome but also by the degree of contingency between the other competing cues (p.238).

From the Paper
"Cue conception is one of the more commonly studied and analyzed aspects of human cognition and human learning. Cue competition refers to the observation that potential causes of a given effect tend to compete for causal status (Beckers, 2005, p.238). The perceived casual status of a given cue (X) in producing a given outcome is determined not only by the co-occurrence of X and the outcome but also by the degree of contingency between the other competing cues (p.238). There are two types of associations between cues and outcomes. The first..."

Tags:psychology, learning, analysis

Abstract
The paper broadly outlines Socrates' defence of justice and why it is good - and what truly constitutes justice. As the paper shows, Plato seems to be of the view that justice, at least within the context of the community, essentially means each party being freed to do his or her function whilst receiving what he or she deserves. In a society without justice, it is argued, proper dispensation is not possible and the ties binding together communities inevitably collapse.

From the Paper
"The following paper will discuss Plato's conception of justice in "The Republic". Of especial note, the paper will broadly outline Socrates' defence of justice and why it is good - and what truly constitutes justice. As will become apparent, Plato seems to be of the view that justice, at least within the context of the community, essentially means each party being freed to do his or her function whilst receiving what he or she deserves. In a society without justice, it is seemingly argued, proper dispensation is not possible and the ties binding together communities inevitably collapse."

Tags:socrates, conception, republic

Abstract
The paper asserts that whether Mary, mother of Jesus, had a choice in the matter of her pregnancy is a perplexing question, however, those who are true believers in the virgin birth dare not question its validity. The paper discusses how believers have faith that Jesus' conception and subsequent birth was foretold and all that occurred was meant to be, therefore, Mary had no choice in the matter as she was destined to become "impregnated" by the Holy Spirit and thus the mother of Jesus Christ. The paper looks at how the Immaculate Conception and birth of Jesus are documented in the biblical books of Matthew and Luke.

From the Paper
"Whether Mary, mother of Jesus, had a choice in the matter of her pregnancy is a perplexing question, however, those who are true believers in the virgin birth dare not question its validity. Believers have faith that Jesus' conception and subsequent birth was foretold and all that occurred was meant to be, therefore, Mary had no choice in the matter as she was..."

Tags:virgin, pregnancy, divine

Abstract
Gaugin's "Ia Orana Maria" and Reni's "The Immaculate Conception" are two very different representations of the Virgin Mary. The paper explains that by utilizing more classical composition techniques, smooth, curving lines and rich, strong colors, Reni portrays Mary as an idealized version of Baroque femininity in a heavenly setting. It shows, in contrast, how Gauguin adheres to the primitive tradition, illustrating Mary as a native woman, a naked Christ child set on her shoulders. His use of asymmetrical composition in a cluttered, unplanned scene provides a feeling of energy and naturalism, a striking contrast to the serenity of Reni's work. The paper shows therefore that in illustrating the Virgin Mary in their works, each painter adheres to the very different sensibilities of their time periods.

From the Paper
"Paul Gaugin's "Ia Orana Maria," translated as "Hail Mary," treats a similar subject matter, in that it illustrates the Virgin Mary with adoring attendants. However, this is not the Mary of the Immaculate Conception, but with Christ who is perched upon her shoulders. Painted in the post-impressionist genre known as Arcadia, which exemplifies scenes of blissful simplicity and retreat from the complex, this work was completed in 1891 and hangs in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. It is not a large work, only 44 inches by about 36 inches. In keeping with its primitive tradition, and in stark contrast to "The Immaculate Conception," the composition is highly asymmetrical, with the central Mary figure set off to the right of the picture. The poses are unstudied, casual and almost accidental, with Mary and the Christ child looking at the viewer, and the two prayerful, adoring native women gazing at them. This casual approach may be an attempt of Gauguin to emphasize the "naturalness" of the scene, despite the obviously supernatural halos."

Tags:Arcadia, Metropolitan, Museum, Orana, Maria

Abstract
This paper presents Mill's idea of human nature and the role it plays in his argument about what controls society can place over the individual. An argument also is presented to demonstrate Dostoevsky's view.

Abstract
Marcia Inhorn examines the connection between infertility and patriarchy in contemporary Egyptian society. This leads her to study various social phenomena in Egypt, including cultural beliefs, family structures, community relations, gender and religion. Overall, Inhorn does an excellent job in providing extensive documentation on the subject of infertility as both a social and medical problem for women.

Abstract
This paper attempts to explain the Christian belief that Christ was both God and man. It cites specific passages in the New Testament that support this doctrine. The paper presents theological arguments that support various basic tenets of Christianity, such as the belief that Jesus is both God and the son of God.

From the Paper
"Faith is founded on mysteries. Christians simply accept the facts of the Virgin Birth, the Immaculate Conception, Original Sin, and that most central of all the tenets of the religion: the Incarnation of Jesus Christ as both God and Man. That Jesus is at one and the same time, both Divine and human lies at the very core of Christianity. It is a doctrine that many have found difficult to accept. Since the earliest days of their own religion Muslims, for example, have been want to ask the question of how one being can composed of multiples substances and comprise multiple natures."

Tags:virgin, birth, immaculate, conception, original, sin, savior